6th December 1947

Staffordshire Advertiser

MUSEUM GIFTS

RANKING with the public library as one of the chief corner-stones in the cultural life of any town is the museum and art gallery, and Stafford is indeed fortunate in having its museum in the charge of an enterprising curator. Most of these institutions have become synonymous with all that is uninteresting and dull through their having acquired a conglomeration of lifeless paraphernalia of past centuries.

Not so at Stafford, however, for under Mr. P. Hepworth (borough librarian and curator) the Museum and Art Gallery have taken on a new complexion, and now reflect something of the past and present life of Stafford in a carefully arranged and effective manner. It is encouraging therefore, to see Staffordians taking a keen interest in the museum and its exhibits, evidence of which is provided in several gifts by local inhabitants.

Recent additions to the art gallery are two watercolours of Sandon Church and Longdon, by W.E. Henley, who lived for a time at Baswich View, Stafford, and a large selection of needlework pictures—one of which is reputed to be the handiwork of Queen Victoria—bequeathed by Lady Cory, of Taunton, to the Victoria and Albert Museum, and passed on to provincial museums. Gifts to the museum include the head of the Penkridge bullock which was roasted to celebrate Ald. W.T. Richardson’s mayoralty, presented by Ald. Richardson; St. Mary’s church in oils, given by Mr. L. Dobson, and a pair of George II top boots, the gift of Mr. T. Timmis.

© Successor rightsholder unknown. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD